him from head to foot, and pawing him about most tumultuously.  They afterwards returned him his clothes, replacing whatever they had taken out of his pockets, and then brought the girl to him.  But after such a scrutinizing and fatiguing process, it was no wonder that the terrified cook should desist from his addresses, and make the best of his way back.  He afterwards said, his master might reprimand him as much as he pleased, but could never frighten him so much as he had been frightened on shore.  When the ships were moored, Bougainville with several of his officers went to survey the watering-place.  The natives expressed joy at their arrival; and the chief of the district conducted them into his own house, and entertained them there with liberal hospitality.  The rights of friendship, nevertheless, did not obliterate the inclination to thieving, so prevalent among these people, for a little before going on board, one of the gentlemen missed a pistol, which he had been in the habit of carrying in his pocket.  The chief was immediately informed of it, and gave orders for searching all the persons present.  Bougainville stopped him, and endeavoured to make him understand, that the thief would certainly be the victim of his own dishonesty, for that what he had stolen would kill him.  This hint had the desired effect; for on the following day, the pistol was brought on board by the chief himself.

It was now proposed to erect a camp on shore for the sick, and to carry on the watering and other necessary operations.  But this was soon opposed, the principal people of the district, headed by the chief, whose name was Ereti, and his father, coming to Bougainville, and expressing their unwillingness to suffer any of the crew to remain on shore at night, though they did not object to frequenting it in the day-time.  To this tolerably reasonable intimation, Bougainville replied, that encampment was absolutely necessary for him, and would facilitate the friendly intercourse that had been commenced.  On this, the natives held a council, the result of which was, that the chief came to Bougainville, and made enquiry of him, whether or not he intended to remain there for ever, and if the latter, how long it would be before he departed.  He was informed that the ships were to sail in eighteen days.  Another council was now held, at which Bougainville was desired to be present.  A grave man who took an active part in the conference, was very desirous to reduce the time of encamping to half the number of days; but Bougainville still insisted on his original proposal, to which at last the council assented, and a good understanding was immediately restored.  The remainder of the stay here does not seem, however, to have been either very peaceable or free from danger.  The thieving disposition of the natives occasioned several unpleasant contentions and perpetual jealousy.  Two of them were murdered by some of the crew, but on what grounds, or by whom